Great Sword Endgame Build in Monster Hunter Wilds — True Charge Slash Focus
Endgame TCS Great Sword Build Summary
| Slot | Recommended pick | Why / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Diablos Tyrannis II or Arkveld Great Sword | Diablos: highest raw (offset negative affinity with skills). Arkveld: natural affinity, Dragon element |
| Helm | Nergigante Helm Alpha+ | Agitator Lv 2 + Attack Boost Lv 1; strong raw attack contribution |
| Chest | Drachen Mail Alpha+ | Focus Lv 2 + Critical Boost Lv 1 (Master's Touch set bonus option) |
| Arms | Bazel Vambraces Beta+ | Earplugs Lv 2 or Weakness Exploit Lv 2 depending on version |
| Waist | Nergigante Coil Beta+ | Agitator Lv 2 + gem slot for Critical Boost |
| Legs | Diablos Greaves Beta+ | Focus Lv 1 to complete Focus Lv 3 total; large gem slot |
| Charm | Focus Charm III or Attack Charm V | Focus Charm if not at Lv 3 through armor; Attack Charm for raw boost if Focus is covered |
| Key Decorations | Weakness Exploit Jewel 3× Lv 3, Critical Boost Jewel 2×, Earplugs Jewel | Fill remaining slots with Critical Eye or Attack Boost jewels |
Why TCS Is the Core of Great Sword
True Charge Slash is the fully charged third phase of the Great Sword's Charged Slash sequence: Hold Triangle → release at first flash (Charged Slash Lv 1) → hold again → release at second flash (Strong Charged Slash) → hold again → release at third flash (True Charge Slash). The TCS has a motion value of approximately 210–230 in Monster Hunter Wilds, which is among the highest of any single attack in the game.
The entire Great Sword gameplay loop is built around landing TCS in monster weak zones. A single TCS on the monster's head during a topple or positioning window can remove more HP than most weapons deal in 10 seconds of sustained attacks. This feast-or-famine nature means positioning is more important for Great Sword than any other weapon — a missed TCS is wasted time, while a landed TCS is a massive reward.
Focus Lv 3 is essential because it reduces the time required to reach maximum charge on each charging phase by approximately 30%. This means TCS arrives faster after the first charge input, reducing the time window you need to hold still for — making it significantly more practical during active monster combat phases.
Priority Skills for Great Sword Endgame
| Skill | Recommended Level | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Lv 3 | Tier 1 — Reduces TCS charge time. Mandatory for TCS builds. |
| Weakness Exploit | Lv 3 | Tier 1 — 50% affinity on weak zones. Mandatory. |
| Critical Boost | Lv 3 | Tier 1 — Increases crit damage multiplier to 40%. Mandatory. |
| Agitator | Lv 5 | Tier 2 — Attack+affinity during enrage; strong for active hunters. |
| Attack Boost | Lv 4+ | Tier 2 — Flat raw boost; highly valuable for GS's high motion value hits. |
| Earplugs | Lv 5 | Tier 2 — Lets you charge during monster roars instead of flinching. Huge time savings. |
| Critical Eye | Lv 7 | Tier 3 — Additional flat affinity to reach near-100% on weak zones. |
| Critical Draw | Lv 3 | Tier 3 — 100% affinity on draw attacks; powers the alternative 'draw attack' playstyle. |
Critical Draw vs. Burst-Focused Playstyle
Critical Draw is a skill that grants 100% affinity on draw attacks — attacks made immediately after unsheathing the weapon. The Classic GS draw playstyle involves repeatedly sheathing and drawing to get Critical Draw affinity on every hit, usually Charged Slash or TCS drawn directly from sheathe. This playstyle is highly mobile (you can reposition while sheathed) and consistently hits weak zones on moving monsters.
The Burst playstyle (also called 'combo GS') keeps the weapon drawn and chains multiple charged slashes together: Charged Slash → Strong Charged Slash → TCS → TCS followup. This approach deals more total damage in a long window (monster pinned or toppled) because you skip the sheathing animation between attacks. It requires more practice to find safe charge windows but rewards positional mastery with higher theoretical DPS.
For beginners, Critical Draw is recommended because the draw-attack loop is simpler and more forgiving. You only need one good window to sheathe, reposition, and draw for a TCS. Experienced players should transition to the burst playstyle for maximum damage during longer open windows (traps, topples, and Paralysis).
Best Weapon Options at Endgame
- Diablos Tyrannis II: Highest raw attack among GS options; natural Purple sharpness; negative affinity (-30%) requires Heavy investment in Critical Eye and Agitator to offset. Best peak DPS when affinity is managed.
- Arkveld Great Sword: Excellent raw with natural affinity (+10%); Dragon element useful against Dragon-weak targets; White sharpness at max upgrade — requires Protective Polish or Handicraft to maintain.
- Nergigante Decimation: High raw with natural affinity (+15%); Dragon element; reaches White sharpness. Slightly lower peak raw than Diablos but more affinity-friendly.
- Fatalis Great Sword (if unlocked): Absurdly high raw; access to all elemental coatings; requires defeating Fatalis which is extreme endgame content. Best-in-slot if obtained.
- Tobi-Kadachi GS: Natural Thunder element with positive affinity — specifically top-tier for Thunder-weak targets; otherwise falls below pure raw options.
Decoration Slot Priority and Crafting
Weakness Exploit requires a 3-slot decoration and should fill your largest gem slots first. Three Weakness Exploit Jewels cover Lv 3 at the cost of three 3-slot sockets. Critical Boost (2-slot per level) should be next — three 2-slot decorations cover Lv 3. Focus can often be covered through armor pieces; supplement with Focus Jewels (2-slot) if one or two levels short.
Earplugs has a 3-slot decoration (Earplugs Jewel) that provides Lv 1 per decoration. Five Earplugs Jewels are required for Lv 5 — a significant slot investment. Prioritize Earplugs to at least Lv 3 early, then work toward Lv 5 as your gear collection expands. Earplugs Lv 3 still negates most medium-strength roars from non-Elder Dragon monsters.
Attack Boost Jewels (1-slot) are the best filler for remaining small gem slots after priority skills are covered. At Lv 7, Attack Boost adds flat raw attack and a small affinity bonus. Fill every remaining 1-slot socket with Attack Boost Jewels to maximize base raw.
Frequently asked questions
What is True Charge Slash and how do I execute it?
True Charge Slash (TCS) is the Great Sword's most powerful attack, achieved by fully charging through all three phases: Hold Triangle to Charged Slash Lv 1 → continue holding through Strong Charged Slash → continue holding to TCS. Release at the third flash for TCS. Focus Lv 3 reduces the time required for each phase, making TCS faster to execute.
Is Diablos or Arkveld GS better?
Diablos Tyrannis II has higher peak damage when affinity is fully managed (reaching 90%+ effective affinity), but its negative base affinity requires heavy Critical Eye and Agitator investment. Arkveld GS is more accessible and performs nearly as well without the affinity offset requirement. For players still building their decoration collection, Arkveld GS is typically the better starting choice.
Should I use Critical Draw or the burst combo playstyle?
Start with Critical Draw for its simplicity and high-mobility draw attack loop. Once comfortable with monster patterns and knowing safe windows, transition to the burst combo (chain multiple charged slashes together during topple windows) for higher DPS ceilings in ideal conditions. Both are viable endgame approaches.
How do I handle monsters that move a lot?
Use the dodge-cancel technique: if a monster moves before TCS connects, dodge cancel out of the charge to preserve positioning, then sheathe and reposition for another draw charge. Focus on waiting for natural pauses in monster movement (after attacks, when eating, when sleeping, or during AoE recovery animations) rather than trying to charge during active monster movement.
Is Focus mandatory for Great Sword?
Yes, for TCS builds. Focus Lv 3 reduces charge time by approximately 30%, meaning you reach TCS faster after the first charge input. Without Focus, TCS charges are noticeable slower, requiring longer monster stillness windows that are harder to find. At Lv 3, TCS feels responsive and achievable in many combat openings.
Can Great Sword be used effectively in multiplayer?
Yes, though coordination helps. In multiplayer, monster aggro spreads across players, which actually creates more safe windows for TCS charges. Communicate with teammates using a Paralysis weapon or Hunting Horn to create extended topple windows where you can land 2–3 full TCS combos. GS is excellent in coordinated groups.
Sources & verification
- Capcom Monster Hunter Wilds — in-game skill data and weapon statistics
- Monster Hunter Wilds community DPS testing (Great Sword TCS motion values, HR endgame)
- Monster Hunter Wilds Official Strategy Guide — Great Sword builds section
Continue this guide path
- ›Monster Hunter Wilds Great Sword Guide — TCS Combos & Best BuildMaster the Great Sword in Monster Hunter Wilds with the optimal TCS combo, essential skill setup, and endgame build. Learn how to position for maximum charged slash damage.
- ›Monster Hunter Wilds Skill System Explained — How Skills, Levels & Caps WorkA complete breakdown of Monster Hunter Wilds' skill system: how skills are sourced from armor and decorations, how levels and caps work, and which skills matter most for every playstyle.
- ›Monster Hunter Wilds Decorations Guide — How to Get & Use Skill GemsComplete guide to decorations in Monster Hunter Wilds — how decoration slots work, how to get rare gems, the best decorations for each build, and the Melding Pot system explained.